The Seahawks have bought themselves a minimum of one more year with their starting left tackle.
They’ve also bought themselves time to sign him to a longer-term extension.
As expected, Seattle is exercising the fifth-year contract option on Charles Cross.
That’s per multiple sources and reports Monday evening, the first by Ian Rapoport of the NFL’s television network.
The option guarantees him his 2026 salary to play for the team instead of entering unrestricted free agency for the first time. Cross’ 2026 salary is expected to be $17.56 million guaranteed to remain with the Seahawks beyond his rookie contract ending following this coming season.
The window to pick up fifth-year options on first-round picks from 2022 opened Jan. 6. It closes May 1.
The News Tribune learned at the league’s scouting combine in Indianapolis in late February the Seahawks were likely to pick up Cross’ option. The TNT learned there the team would do so with the intent to sign Cross to a longer-term extension for 2026 and beyond, at a salary-cap charge lower and better for the team than $17.56 million for next year.
Picking up the option gives the Seahawks a backup assurance Cross will remain their left tackle beyond this season, even if negotiations on a longer-term extension between now and 2026 fail.
General manager John Schneider refused to answer this past weekend and all month if the Seahawks intend to pick up Cross’ option. The GM kept saying the team has until May 1 to decide that.
All drafted players in the NFL get four-year rookie contracts. The 2020 league collective bargaining agreement includes the stipulation that teams have the option to retain first-round draft picks for a fifth season. It’s at a guaranteed salary that’s the average of top salaries across that player’s position, plus added money for playing time and league awards.
The Seahawks drafted Cross in the first round in 2022, at ninth overall. He is the second pick from the first round for Seattle since the 2020 CBA, to whom the fifth-year option has applied.
The other, linebacker Jordyn Brooks from 2020, was coming off reconstructive knee surgery the spring of his final contract year. The team did not pick up Brooks’ option in 2023, then let his rookie contract end after that year’s season. He signed in the spring of 2024 with Miami as a first-time free agent.
The Seahawks did not have a first-round pick in 2021. They traded it to the Jets as part of the deal to acquire safety Jamal Adams.
The Seahawks’ first-round pick from this past weekend was Grey Zabel from North Dakota State. He has played every position on the offensive line, though Seattle drafted him at 18th overall to be its new starting left guard. He played tackle more than any other position at NDSU.
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